THE RED SCARE
Lizzie Boyer - 6th Period
Thesis / What was the Red Scare ?
The Red Scare of 1919 after WW1 was the first of two major periods in
American History when fear of communists, anarchists, and socialists
grew into the persecution and deportation of Americans thought to
be radicals. It’s an example of how stereotypes and fear of radicalism
can have disastrous consequences, mitigating the effects of peace
and prosperity of any culture.
What was the cause of the
Red Scare?
-
Russian Revolution influence
Labor Strikes
Immigrants were feared to be
anarchists and communists.
Also, unions were seen in a
negative light.
The association of communism
with unions would continue to be
a hindrance for labor and the
advancement of labor reforms.
What is Communism?
- A theory or system of social organization
based on the holding of all property in
common, actual ownership being
ascribed to the community as a whole or
to the state.
Who were the Bolsheviks?
- A member of a wing of the Russian Social - Democratic Workers’
Party
- Founded by Vladimir Lenin
- Focused around the ideas of Alexander Bogdanov
- The Bolsheviks continued to insist upon a highly centralized,
disciplined, professional party.
- Gained power after the October Revolution, eight months
after the revolution that the Czar abdicated the throne on
March 15th.
- They appealed to the public’s basic needs with Lenin’s slogan
“peace, land, and bread.”
- Bolsheviks were in power until its fall in 1991
“Kill It NOW!”, May 6th, 1920.
The American Federation of Labor strove to
affirm its loyalty to American democracy and
capitalism and to distance itself from the
radical Marxist ideology of the International
Workers of the World
Rise of Vladimir Lenin
-
-
-
Was drawn to the revolution after
his brother’s execution after
attempting to murder Alexander
III
Lenin was exiled to Siberia in
1895 and came back to Russia
when his sentence ended in
1900.
He founded the Bolsheviks
Was the first head of the Soviet
State from 1917- 1924
Known as one of the greatest and
most practical revolutionists of all
times.
,
-
Problems with Russian Monarchy
- Czar Nicholas was considered to be a weak
czar because he tried to resolve problems by
signing manifestos
- Then took everything he did away like it never
happened.
- Caused an uproar
- Revolutionary groups such as the Bolsheviks
began to gain massive support
- In 1914, Nicholas led Russia into another costly
war
- Things in Russia became devastating for
common people
End of the Russian Monarchy
-
-
-
After the February Revolution in Russia the Army Garrison
at Petrograd began to join workers in strikes demanding
socialist reforms.
Nicholas was forced to abdicate and his family was
imprisoned
In July 1918, countries who tried to reestablish the
monarchy caused the Bolshevik Council In Yekaterinburg to
fear that nicholas might be rescued.
After a secret Bolshevik meeting, they passed a Death
sentence on the royal family
On July 16th, 1918, the royal family and remaining
servants were shot to death.
Over 300 Years of Romanov Ruling ended
Revolution influence in america
- Americans feared the threat of communism in the
United States.
- Fears were tied closely to the growth of the
organized labor movement during WW1.
- Over 3,300 postwar strikes swept the nation.
- Americans who considered their country to be the
“home of free business” were shocked by the
protests
- People feared that we were going to have a
Russian Revolution after Lenin warned the the
Revolution would spread to workers in other
countries.
Revolution influence in america Con.
- A small group of radicals formed the Communist
Labor Party in 1919.
- Several bombings occurred in 1919
- Police Strikes began with policemen demanding
higher wages.
- Thieves began to take advantage of the
unprotected homes and shops
- Coolidge finally called state troops to protect
people's homes
- Most policemen lost their jobs
The Palmer Raids
-
-
-
-
On June 2nd, 1919, a series of
bombings by suspected anarchists went
off in eight cities.
President Wilson’s Attorney General A.
Mitchell Palmer’s home was partially
destroyed.
Palmer blamed the 70,000 self
proclaimed communists for all of the
problems in the country.
Published Documents like “The Case
Against the Reds” (1920)
Palmer, “The Case Against the Reds”
“ In the confused information that sometimes reaches the people, they are compelled to ask
questions which involve the reasons for my acts against the “Reds.” I have been asked, for
instance, to what extent deportation will check radicalism in this country. Why not ask what will
become of the United States Government if these alien radicals are permitted to carry out the
principles of the Communist Party as embodied in its so-called laws, aims, and regulations? There
wouldn’t be any such thing left. In place of the United States Government we should have the
horror and terrorism of bolsheviki tyranny such as is destroying Russia now. Every scrap of radical
literature demands the overthrow of our existing government. All of it demands obedience to the
instincts of criminal minds, that is, to the lower appetites, material and moral. The whole purpose
of communism appears to be a mass formation of the criminals of the world to overthrow the
decencies of private life, to usurp property that they have not earned, to disrupt the present order
of life regardless of health, sex or religious rights. By a literature that promises the wildest dreams
of such low aspirations, that can occur to only the criminal minds, communism distorts our social
law.”
The Palmer Raids Con.
-
-
On November 7th, 1919, the first series
of raids were launched
Federal Bureau of Investigation
created under leadership of J.Edgar
Hoover
12 different cities conducted raids on
anarchists meetings
600 workers arrested
Government Deported people under the
Sedition Act of 1918.
He deported 249 Russian
immigrants without a reasonable
cause - “Soviet Ark”
2nd Red Scare 1947-1957
-
-
Occurred during the start of the Cold War
with the Soviet Union after the end of
WWll.
Communism spread in Eastern Europe,
China, and the Korean War
U.S feared that the Soviet Union and its
allies could infiltrate their country.
Soviet union became a world superpower
Had Nuclear Bombs
Americans were scared of anyone who
sided with the communists and helped
share secret information to the soviets
McCarthyism
-
-
-
Fear of Communism led to a national hunt for
suspected communist supporters which was
known as McCarthyism
Joseph McCarthy - a U.S. Senator had
aggressive anti-communist pursuits
In 1950, McCarthy created a national sensation
by claiming a list of 205 names of known
Communists inside the state Department.
Many of the accused were blacklisted or lost
their jobs, although most did not in fact belong
to the Communist Party.
Anti Communist Propaganda in 1948
Albert Fried
-
Professor of History at State University of
New York
Twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Most Recent Works:
- Communism in America
- McCarthyism: The Great American
Red Scare
- The Rise and Fall of the Jewish
Gangster in America
John Earl Haynes
-
-
-
-
Specialist in 20th- Century political history
in the Manuscript Division of the Library of
Congress
Born in 1944
Known for his books on the subject of the
American Communist and Anti-Communist
movements, and on Soviet Espionage in
America
Began to write about the Soviet Union
when it began to fall and sensitive archives
were open to scholars
Was the first to examine records of the
Communist Party USA
Review Questions
1. What was the cause of the Red Scare?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fear of Russia ruling over the U.S.
Russia sending threats to the U.S. saying they would invade the country
American fear of Russian Revolution spreading to the U.S
Serious death rate in the 1920’s from all of the raids leaving blood in the streets.
2. What form of government were people scared of during the Red Scare?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Dictatorship
Fascism
Monarchy
Communism
Review Questions
3. Who were the Bolsheviks?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Workers under a democratic internal hierarchy
Vladimir Lenin’s revolutionary group
The group to overthrow the russian government and murder the Russian monarchy
All of the above
4. How long did the 2nd Red Scare last?
a.
b.
c.
d.
10 years
4 years
19 years
1 year
Review Questions
5. Why did people fear the strikes?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fear that a Russian Revolution was going to be repeated
They didn’t want to get hit.
They feared that the government would retaliate against neutral citizens
U.S citizens were already content with wages and working conditions.
6. The leader of the FBI who helped to get information on people who were
suspected communists?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Joseph McCarthy
A. Mitchell Palmer
J. Edgar Hoover
Mr. Fernandez
Review Questions
7. What US Senator used gossip and hearsay to accuse people of being
communist and against the government?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Richard Nixon
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Joseph McCarty
A. Mitchell Palmer
8. When did the second Red Scare Occur
a.
b.
c.
d.
In the 1940s-50s
During the Cold War
After WWll
All of the Above
Review Questions
9. Who was Vladimir Lenin?
a.
b.
c.
d.
First leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Leader of Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917
Leader of the Red Terror campaign
All of the above
10. What is the term used for the king of Russia?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Emperor
Czar
Coup
Serf
Works Cited
1st Red Scare
-
"The Red Scare." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. http://www.ushistory.org/us/47a.asp
Case, Stephanie. "Red Scare." Red Scare. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web.
http://americanstudies212.blogspot.com/2011/04/red-scare.html
"Russian Czar Abdicates." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d.
Web.http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/russian-czar-abdicates
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Bolshevik." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14
July 2009.
Web.https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bolshevik
Inglis-Arkell, Esther. "The Genius Who Killed Himself Trying to Become Immortal." Io9. Io9.gizmodo.com, 25 Mar.
2014. Web.http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-genius-who-killed-himself-trying-to-become-immortal-1551484226
"Bolsheviks Revolt in Russia." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bolsheviks-revolt-in-russia
"Post 1917 Russian Discussion." Post 1917 Russian Discussion. N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.angelfire.com/ult/discuss/consolidation.html
"American History: Fear of Communism in 1920 Threatens Civil Rights." VOA. VOA, 07 Dec. 2010. Web.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-fear-of-communism-in-1920-becomes-a-threat-to-rights-111561904/1
16001.html
2nd Red Scare
-
History.com Staff. "Red Scare." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web.
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/red-scare
"McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare." Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. N.p., 28 June 2016.
Web.
http://americanhistory.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-6